1 Children,He comes to another part of a family, and shows that the duty of the children toward their parents consists in obedience to them.obey your parentsThe first argument: because God has so appointed. And upon this it follows also that children are obligated to obey their parents, that they may not swerve from the true worship of God.in theFor the Lord is author of all fatherhood, and therefore we must yield such obedience as he will have us.Lord:The second argument: because this obedience is most just.for this is right.
2 A proof of the first argument.Honour thy father and mother;The third argument taken of the profit that ensues from it: because the Lord gave this commandment among all the rest a special blessing.(which is the first commandment withWith a special promise: for otherwise the second commandment has a promise of mercy to a thousand generations, but that promise is general.promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayst liue long on earth.
4 It is the duty of fathers to use their fatherly authority moderately and to God's glory.And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture andSuch information and precepts which are taken out of God's book, and are holy and acceptable to him.admonition of the Lord.
5 Now he descends to the third part of a family, that is, to the duty both of the masters and of the servants. And he shows that the duty of servants consists in a hearty love and reverence for their masters.Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] mastersHe moderates the sharpness of service, in that they are spiritually free even though they are servants, and yet that spiritual freedom does not take away physical service: insomuch that they cannot be Christ's, unless they serve their masters willingly and faithfully, as much as they may with clear conscience.according to the flesh, withWith careful reverence: for slavish fear is not allowable, much less in Christian servants.fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ,To cut off occasion of all pretences, he teaches us that it is God's will that some are either born or made servants, and therefore they must respect God's will although their service is ever so hard.doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to theBeing moved with a reverence for God, as though you served God himself.Lord, and not to men:
8 Although they serve unkind and cruel masters, yet the obedience of servants is no less acceptable to God, than the obedience of those that are free.Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free.
9 It is the duty of masters to use the authority that they have over their servants, modestly and in a holy manner, seeing that they in another respect have a common master who is in heaven, who will judge both the servant and the free.And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is thereEither of freedom or bondage.respect of persons with him.
10 He concludes the other part of this epistle with a grave exhortation, that all are ready and fight constantly, trusting in spiritual weapons, until their enemies are completely put to flight. And first of all he warns us to take up the armour of God, for with it alone may our enemy be dispatched.Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the assaultes of the deuil.
12 Secondly, he declares that our chiefest and mightiest enemies are invisible, so that we may not think that our chiefest conflict is with men.For we wrestle not against flesh andAgainst men, who are of a frail and brittle nature, against whom are set spiritual wiles, a thousand times more mighty than the flesh.blood, but againstHe gives these names to the evil angels, by reason of the effects which they work: not that they are able to do the same in and of themselves, but because God gives them permission.principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
13 He shows that these enemies are put to flight only with the armour of God, that is, with uprightness of conscience, a godly and holy life, knowledge of the Gospel, faith, and to be short, with the word of God. And that daily earnest prayer must be made for the health of the Church, and especially for the steadfast faithfulness of the true, godly, and valiant ministers of the word.Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in theSee (Eph_5:16).evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, and your loynes girded about with veritie, and hauing on the brest plate of righteousnesse,
15 And your feet shod with theThe preparation of the Gospel may be as it were shoes to you: and it is very fitly called the Gospel of peace, because, seeing we have to go to God through most dangerous ranks of enemies, this may encourage us to go on bravely, in that you know by the doctrine of the Gospel, that we are travelling to God who is at peace with us.preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Aboue all, take the shielde of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fierie dartes of the wicked,
17 And take the helmet of saluation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the worde of God.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in theThat holy prayers may proceed from the Holy Spirit.Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that vtterance may be giuen vnto me, that I may open my mouth boldly to publish the secret of the Gospel,
20 Whereof I am the ambassadour in bonds, that therein I may speake boldely, as I ought to speake.
21 A familiar and very amiable declaration of his state, together with a solemn prayer, with which Paul is accustomed to end his epistles.But that ye also may know my affairs, [and] how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I haue sent vnto you for the same purpose, that ye might knowe mine affaires, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be with the brethren, and loue with faith from God the Father, and from the Lorde Iesus Christ.
24 Grace [be] with all them that love our Lord Jesus ChristOr to immortality, to life everlasting.in sincerity. Amen. «[To [the] Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.]»
